If you drive down any busy highway, you’re guaranteed to see a large number of semi-trucks. While most semi operators obey the law, they also drive on the clock, and they suffer financial consequences if they don’t make deliveries on schedule. With so much pressure to “get it there faster,” it’s no wonder that semi-truck drivers sometimes push and exceed speed limits, says Rand Spear Philadelphia truck accident lawyer.

Now, a proposed federal rule wants to change that. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have come together to propose changes to the law that would require trucks weighing over 26,000 pounds to be outfitted with a device that would prevent them from driving over a certain speed.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the trucking industry has been vocal in its opposition to the proposed rule. One popular trucking website that features an opinion from the executive director of the National Motorists Association Foundation that states: “…there’s plenty of evidence that shows why devices that keep trucks from accelerating above a certain level for what is likely to be a short distance isn’t a good idea.”

Stats on Large Truck Crashes

However, proponents of the speed limiter rule say you need only look at the recent large truck crash statistics to find evidence to support the proposed rule.

Data gathered by the FMCSA reveals that excessive speed contributes to over 33 percent of all traffic accidents, with 23 percent of those involving large trucks. In 2014 alone, semi-trucks and buses were involved in more than 4,000 crashes.

Currently, federal regulators are considering three proposed maximum speed limits for the limiting technology: 60, 65, and 68 miles per hour.

Philadelphia truck accident lawyer Rand Spear states, “There’s no question that speed contributes to a lot of semi-truck accidents. If the proposed rule passes, truckers would be forced to drive at reduced speeds, which could in turn reduce the number of speed-related collisions on the nation’s highways.”

However, opponents of the rule point out that slowing down semis could have unintended consequences, such as more traffic congestion, which could lead to an increase in accidents. They also claim that speed limiters could make other motorists frustrated, causing a spike in road rage incidents.

Have you been injured in a semi-truck accident caused by a truck driver who was driving too fast? Don’t wait to speak to a personal injury lawyer about your case. Protect your rights by calling Philadelphia and New Jersey truck accident lawyer Rand Spear today at 877-GET-RAND.